Method of collecting and condensing a medical specimen



Feb. 15, 1966 J. B. MCCORMICK METHOD OF COLLECTING AND CONDENSING AMEDICAL SPECIMEN Filed April 15, 1963 I llilil I INVENTOR.

James 5 M Cor/mick BY fwv, @216, 54 Wm A TTORNE YS mum United StatesPatent 3,235,175 METHOD OF COLLECTING AND CONDENSHNG A MEDlCAL SPEUMENJames B. McCormick, La Grange, 111., assignor, by means assignments, toAmos Lab-Teh, The, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Apr. 15, 1963,Ser. No. 273,093 1 Claim. (l. 23326) This invention relates to thecollection of specimens of pathologic material to be used forbacteriologic examinations and, more particularly, to receptaclesutilized to collect specimens of sputum for such examination.

In order to diagnose the presence in the body of certaindisease-producing bacteria or the presence of cells indicating thepresence of a disease, a physician will frequently request that aspecimen of the sputum of the patient be obtained and analyzed. Sputumconsists of secretory material from the lower respiratory tract and ispreferably collected soon after the patient awakes in the morning byexpectoration by the patient into a receptacle. The specimen is thenanalyzed and its volume, odor, color, and cellular and bacteria contentnoted. Normally, the notation of the cellular and bacteria contentincludes a microscopic examination of the specimen and, frequently, thepreparation of cultures therefrom. Both of these latter procedures makeit desirable to centrifuge the specimen to concentrate and separate thesputum from saliva and nasopharyngeal secretion.

The conventional precedure for obtaining and analyzing sputum specimensis not entirely satisfactory. Normally, sputum is collected from thepatient in a glass dish, paper cup, or other receptacle which, becauseof its open construction, makes it easier for the patient to deposit thespecimen therein. Such a receptacle is generally not suitable for use inan analysis of the specimen, however, or even the storage thereof for anextended period of time.

On the other hand, laboratory apparatus such as is used in an analysisof the specimen is generally not suitable for the collection of thespecimen from the patient because its size would frequently make itdifiicult for the patient to deposit the specimen in it, and alsobecause of the susceptibility of the apparatus to breakage and thegeneral instability of the apparatus which would render it difiicult forthe patient to handle unassisted. Hence, after the specimen has beenobtained, it must be transferred to a test tube or similar piece oflaboratory apparatus from which the analysis can be performed. In thecourse of the analysis, several transfers to various forms of apparatusare not uncommon. Occasionally, the specimen is shipped to a distantlaboratory for analysis, in which case the receptacle to which thespecimen is transferred must be one which is capable of Withstanding thestresses which arise during shipment.

Also, since the specimen is preferably obtained from the patient soonafter the patient awalres, the receptacle in which it is received shouldpreferably be left overnight with the patient, as on a bedside table.However, many receptacles conveniently used for this purpose arerelatively unstable and are prone to be easily upset either prior to, orafter, the specimen has been deposited therein. Other receptacles are ofsuch dimensions that a patient, particularly a semi-invalid, hasdifllculty in depositing the specimen therein. receptacles which providea wide area for the receipt of the specimen possess the disadvantage ofnot including a lid. Such receptacles are ditficult to maintain in asterile condition prior to the introduction of the specimen, and createthe possibility of the specimen being spilled from the receptacle whileit is being collected.

Further, the dish-shaped 3,235,175 Patented Feb. 15, lgfifi When a paperreceptacle is used, it is difficult to insure its initial sterility and,if the outside of the receptacle becomes contaminated while the specimenis being deposited therein, it is not possible to readily decontaminatethe receptacle for the benefit of those who must handle it.

Moreover, as previously mentioned, the specimen is generally centrifugedprior to the microscopic examination thereof and the preparation ofculture therefrom. After decantation, the remaining concentrate is quitetacky and tenacious and its removal from the centrifuge tube isdiflicult.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to providean improved receptacle for the collection of sputum.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a receptacle whichcan be easily maintained in a sterile condition and which isparticularly adapted to be utilized by the patient without assistance.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved receptaclewhich is adapted to be utilized for the collection of a sputum specimenfrom the patient as well as for the laboratory analysis of the specimen.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle whichis adapted to be utilized for the collection of a sputum specimen from apatient, for the centrifugation of the specimen, and which is adapted tofacilitate the transfer of a portion of the specimen to a slide.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improveddisposable receptacle for the collection of sputum, which receptacle iseconomical to produce, convenient to use, and is adapted for the storageand shipment of the sputum as well as the collection thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent withreference to the following description and the accompanying drawing.

in the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a device showing various of thefeatures of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged exploded elevational view of the device ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged elevational view, partially in section, of aportion of the device of FIGURES l and 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view on a reduced scale showing a manner inwhich the sputum can be transferred from a portion of the device ofFIGURES 1 through 3 to a microscopic slide.

Very generally, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a deviceit is provided and comprises a hollow tubular receptacle l3 maintainedin generally upright disposition by a stand or base 15. The upper end ofthe receptacle defines a wide mouth 17 through which the sputum isdeposited, and a cap 19 is provided which serves as a closure for themouth. The lower end 21 of the receptacle is closed and is formed so asto taper inwardly and downwardly, and the walls of the tapered lowerportion 21 are provided with lines of weakness 23 to permit a lowersection thereof to be separated from the remainder of the receptacle soas to thereby facilitate the removal of material through the lower endof the receptacle.

More particularly, the receptacle 13 is preferably fabricated of aninexpensive material so that it can be produced with a minim-um ofexpense and thus discarded after a single use. The material of which thereceptacle is fabricated should also be such as will permit a lowersection of the lower tapered portion 21 to be easily separated from theremainder of the receptacle, as along a line of weakness 2 3. Hence, thematerial should be susceptible to fracture or severance along a fairlywelldefined plane. Furthermore, the material is preferably flexible anddeformable so as to permit the wall of the receptacle defining the mouth17 to conform to the mouth of the patient, and also to permit thetransfer of the material contained in the receptacle to a slide by thecollapsing of the separated lower section of the tube. A material whichis satisfactory in all of the above respects is a flexible thermoplasticmaterial such as polyethylene having an average thickness at the wallsof the tube of about one millimeter.

The central portion of the receptacle is of a generally cylindricaltubular construction and includes an upper cylindrical section 25, and alower cylindrical section 27 having an outer diameter slightly less thanthat of the upper section. The lower edge of the wall of the uppercylinder therefore projects outwardly from the outer surface of the wallof the lower cylinder and defines a downwardly facing ledge 29 which isengageable with a shoulder 31 of the stand so as to position thereceptacle thereon, as hereinafter described. The cylindricalconfiguration of the central portion of the receptacle renders thereceptacle particularly adapted to be carried within a centrifuge, thusrendering it useful both in the collection of the sputum and in thelaboratory analysis thereof.

The upper cylinder is flared adjacent its upper end to define the widemouth 17, the diameter of the mouth being preferably of the order of 4centimeters so as to accommodate the puckered lip portion of the mouthof the expectorating patient. In this respect, the angle of the flaredportion of the mouth-defining Wall preferably closely approximates theinclination of the lips of such a patient. When the receptacle is formedof a flexible material, the rim 33 of the mouth of the receptacle iscapable of being accommodate to the contours of the mouth of thepatient, thereby facilitating the deposit of sputum in the receptacle bythe patient.

The rim 33 is generally cylindrical and an inwardly directed lip 35adjacent its upper edge serves to retain the cap 1% in place, ashereinafter described.

The cap 19 comprises generally a fiat circular plate 37 having adepending flange 39 disposed normal to the plane of the plate and offsetslightly from its periphery. The outer upper surface of the flange isinclined for a portion of its length and terminates in a downwardlyfacing shoulder 41 which engages the upper edge of the rim 33 when thecap is in place. A groove a3 is provided in the outer surface of theflange immediately below the shoulder.to receive the lip 35, and thelower outer edge of the flange is chamfered, as at 45, to enable it tobe cammed over the lip 35 and into a position in which the lip occupiesthe groove 43 of the flange.

The interengagement between the flange 39 of the cap 19 and the rim 33provides an essentially fluid-tight seal between the cap and body of thereceptacle which prevents the specimen from being lost if the receptacleshould be upset but, more importantly, permits the receptacle to be usedfor the shipment of the specimen.

The cap 19 is hingedly attached to the tubular body of the receptacle bya flat strip 47 of flexible material which is connected at one of itsends to the upper portion of the tubular body of the receptacle, and atthe other of its ends to a peripheral portion of the cap. The hingepermits the cap to be moved to an out-of-the-way position while thepatient is depositing the specimen therein, but allows the cap to remainattached to the receptacle so that it will not be lost or misplaced. A.finger tab 49 is provided on the cap opposite the hinge 47 to facilitatethe displacement of the cap to an open position.

The lower end 21 of the tubular body is normally closed and is formed soas to taper sharply and irregularly to a blunt point, thereby renderingthe low-er end of the tube of a narrower diameter. When the sputum isdeposited in the receptacle, it is generally accompanied by a quantityof saliva from which it is later separated by centrifugation. Thetapering of the lower ends of the receptacle causes the sputum to occupya relatively greater depth than would be the case if the receptacle wereof the same diameter throughout its length, and thus renders thespecimen easier to decant than if the sputum formed only a thin layer.vioreover, when the relatively heavy specimen is deposited in thetapered lower portion, it lowers the center of gravity of the receptacleand thus renders it more stable and less susceptible to being upset.

More specifically, the tapered lower end 21 of the tube comprisesessentially three sections 51, 53 and 55. The Wall defining theuppermost section 51 is inclined inwardly relatively sharply and extendsdownwardly from the lower edge of the cylindrical body approximatelyone-third the length of the tapered lower portion. The wall is notchedslightly as at 57 adjacent the lower edge of the upper section toprovide a line of weakness 23a, which line of weakness encircles thetapered lower portion and defines a plane along which the sections 53and 55 of the tapered portion can be separated from the remainder of thereceptacle in a manner hereinafter described.

Depending from the walls of the notch 57 is a generally verticallydispose-d skirt portion 59 of relatively brief length, and theintermediate tapered section 53 depends from the lower edge of the skirt59, the walls of the intermediate section 53 being inclined at somewhatless of an angle than the inclination of the walls of the upper section51. A notch 61 defining a line of weakness 23b is provided adjacent thelower end of the intermediate section and encircles the lower tubularsection to define a second plane along which the section 55 of the lowertubular portion may be separated from the remainder of the receptacle.

A generally vertically disposed skirt 63 depends from the notch 61, andthe third or end section 55 is attached to the lower edge of the skirt,the walls of the third section being inclined at substantially the sameangle as the walls of the intermediate section 53. The wall of the lowersection tapers to a blunt point to close the body at its lower end.

The stand 15 maintains the receptacle in a stable generally uprightposition as, for example, on a table adjacent the bedside of a patientor on a laboratory table, but also may be utilized in the handling ofthe receptacle, as will be discussed shortly. The stand is preferablymade of a durable material such as metal so that it can be sterilizedand reused, but may, if desired, be formed of a paper or cardboard andthus rendered disposable.

More specifically, the stand includes a hollow base having a centralsection 65 in the form of an inverted truncated cone. A flange 67depends from the lower edge of the cone to a surface-engaging position,and a second flange 69 extends upwardly from the upper edge of the coneto receive a sleeve '71, hereinafter described. The diameter of thelower edge of the base, as defined by the lower flange, is sufficientlygreat to render the stand and receptacle supported therein stable undernormal conditions.

The sleeve 71 is carried by the base and includes a generallycylindrical side wall defining a lower section 73 closed at its lowerend, and an upper section 75 of slightly greater outer diameter than thelower section. The juncture of the two sections defines a downwardlyfacing ledge 77 which engages a shoulder '79 defined by the upper edgeof the upper flange of the base, thereby positioning the sleeve on thebase. The upper edge of the upper cylindrical section 75 defines theshoulder 31, previously referred to, which is engaged by the ledge 29 ofthe receptacle. The body, sleeve and base thus telescope inside oneanother, and their relative positions are determined by theinterengagement of the ledges 29 and 77 and shoulders 31 and 79.

In the use of the device 11, the disposable receptacle 13 is preferablyplaced in a sterilized condition in a stand 15, also preferablysterilized. The device is then placed upon the bedside table of thepatient in the evening with instructions to the patient to deposit aspecimen of sputum in the receptacle shortly after he awakes in themorning. This can therefore be accomplished by the patient without theassistance of a nurse or attendant by merely placing the receptacle withthe flared mouth 17 thereof in surrounding relation to his lips andexpectorating into the receptacle.

After the patient has deposited the specimen, the nurse removes thereceptacle and delivers it to the laboratory for analysis. Occasionally,part of the specimen, particularly salivary material, is deposited on,and contaminates, the side walls of the receptacle. In such a case, thenurse may handle the receptacle by means of the stand 15.

In the laboratory, the volume, odor and color of the specimen are notedand certain preliminary tests may be made thereon as required. Thereceptacle is then removed from the stand and placed in a centrifuge.When the tube is removed from the centrifuge, the material is decanted,thus separating the concentrate from the liquor, i.e., the saliva andother lighter materials.

In order to remove the concentrate from the lower portion 21 of thereceptacle, a lower section of the lower portion is separated from theremainder of the receptacle, as along a line of weakness 23, therebyproviding a conicalshaped cup (FIG. 4) in which the concentrate iscarried. The concentrate may be easily removed from this cup by merelycollapsing the cup between the thumb and forefinger while spreading theconcentrate onto a microscope slide.

The receptacle described is thus adapted to be used for the collectionof a sputum specimen from a patient, and for the laboratory analysis ofthe specimen including the centrifugation there-of. Moreover, when thecentrifuging has been completed, the receptacle is particularly adaptedto the transfer of the tenacious, tacky concentrate from the receptacleto a slide by the provision of lines of weakness in the lower portion ofthe receptacle which makes it possible to separate a segment of thereceptacle containing the concentrate from the remainder of thereceptacle, from which segment the concentrate can be easily removed.

While various of the structural features of one specific embodiment ofthe invention have been shown and described, it should be apparent thatvarious modifications may be made therein without departing from thescope of the invention.

What is claimed:

A method of collecting and condensing a specimen of sputum from apatient comprising (A) providing the patient with a sputum receptacleformed to provide (1) a tubular main body portion,

(2) and a lower fall portion integral with the main body portion and oftapered configuration so as to define a hollow tip at the lower end ofthe receptacle,

(a) said receptacle being formed of a flexible material so as to rendersaid tip easily collapsible when detached from said intermediate wallportion,

(B) collecting a specimen of sputum in the receptacle,

(C) centrifuging the specimen in the receptacle to cause a condensate toaccumulate in the hollow tip at the lower end of the receptacle,

(D) decanting the liquor from the condensate while causing thecondensate to remain in the hollow tip,

(E) severing the hollow tip from the remainder of the receptacle byrupturing the wall thereof,

(F) and transferring the condensate from the tip onto a slide formicroscopic examination by collapsing the hollow tip so as to cause thecondensate to be discharged therefrom.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 934,833 9/1909Parker 23326 2,165,860 7/1939 Killmeyer 222541 X 2,259,992 10/1941 Binon222-215 X 2,649,245 8/1953 Silverstolpe 233-26 2,720,343 10/1955 Ross eta1 222179.5 X 2,907,489 10/1959 Taylor 222-541 2,952,861 9/1960 'Reggio222-541 X 2,981,449 4/1961 Perkins 222-541 3,081,002 3/1963 Tauschinski'et a1. 222-541 X 3,115,460 12/1963 McCormick 23326 M. CARY NELSON,Primary Examiner. LEWIS I. DEMBO, Examiner.

